Restoring the Dal lake to its original glory

Restoring the Dal lake to its original glory

The Dal Lake -- a veritable symbol of Kashmir -- is fighting for its very existence.

The lake has shrunk to one-third of its original area in less than three decades because of encroachments, siltation and discharge of effluents into the lake by thousands of commercial and private establishments and also discharge from hundreds of floating houseboats, which are anchored in the middle of the lake.

Restoring the Dal lake to its original glory

Hundreds of houses located within the lake are also the cause of its immense degradation.

The lake, lassoed by a circular road and the Zabarwan mountain range, is not only a major tourist attraction but also a source of sustenance for thousands of people living in and around the lake, who own houseboats or grow vegetables on the floating gardens.

Restoring the Dal lake to its original glory

Promising the Centre's full support in protecting the state's environment and forests, Ramesh said 40 per cent of the work on the Rs 300 crore Dal Cleaning Project has been accomplished, and that the remainder will be completed within the next two years.

Image: Small boats tied to the jetty at the Dal lakePhotographs: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters

Restoring the Dal lake to its original glory

Giving a detailed overview of the prestigious Dal lake restoration plan, Ramesh said after jointly surveying the lake with the chief minister he realised that the Dal was not only a lake that needed to be cleansed but an eco and a social system that embedded large number of wetlands and nearly 10,000 families.

Image: Tourists take a boat ride on the Dal LakePhotographs: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters

Restoring the Dal lake to its original glory

In Phase I, the central government has funded hte entire Rs 300 crore for cleaning the project. While visiting the lake, I have observed that a large section of the lake has been cleaned. The state government has presented a comprehensive proposal of Rs1100 crore to save the Dal lake's ecosystem by cleaning and the rehabilitation of 10,000 families. We need to find the remaining Rs.800 crore for resettlement and rehabilitation of the Dal dwellers," Ramesh said.

Image: A breath-taking view of the Dal LakePhotographs: Danish Ismail/Reuters